Emergency Advice

Emergency Situations in the Home

  • Call 000 for the ambulance
  • Phone the Practice to advise

What to do in an emergency:

If you need urgent medical treatment dial 000 and ask for an ambulance. You should ALWAYS call an ambulance in the event of an emergency requiring urgent medical attention.

Medical Emergencies

If you are not sure, call the ambulance anyway. Ambulance paramedics can always attend, assess the situation and then leave if the person at home does not require further treatment. It is best to be safe.

Medical Emergencies Include:

  • Sudden collapse
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Uncontrolled bleeding
  • Car Accident
  • Fall
  • Fractured bones
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Severe back pain
  • Choking
  • A severe burn or scald
  • Convulsions or fitting
  • Stroke (possible) – especially if there is numbness, loss of function of hand, arm or leg, slurred speech, facial droop or severe abrupt headache.
  • Medication overdose – if too many tablets have been taken by mistake
  • Electrical shock – of any kind
  • Hypothermia or heat stress – which is severe

After Hours

These services can also direct you to the nearest After Hours Services in your local area, or assess if you need to go to hospital.

If you need a Doctor outside of normal surgery hours, you can contact 13 SICK (137425). They are available during the night, weekends and even Christmas Day.

The Australian Government provides a free service called the After Hours GP Helpline on 1800 022 222

This service offers telephone assistance for those with an urgent health concern at night or over the weekend when your GP is closed and you are unsure what to do. The GP Helpline can give you the reassurance and practical medical advice you need. You will be able to speak to a Nurse who will assess your situation and provide you with information and if necessary transfer you to a GP who can provide further medical advice.